Crescendo device.



B.. R. VAN VALKENBURG. GRESGBNDO DEVICE. APELIGATIOH FILED Nov. 4, 1913.

1, 1 26, 1 37. Patented Jan. 26, 1915.

Z SHEETS-SHEET 1.

' IIVVENTOR 5202 E V027 Void 627m? THE NORRIS PETERS C0. FHQTO-LHHQ. WASHINGTON. D L

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

rgain Patented Jan. 26, 1915.

B. R. VAN VALKENBURG. GRESGENDO DEVICE, APPLIOATIOH FILED NOV. 4, 1913.

WITNESSES:

V g k m E m M 6 0 W m m/ m? mmm/ w THE NORRIS PETERS 60.. PHOTO-LITHO). WASHINGTON D C UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BURT R. VAN VALKENBURG, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

CBESCENDO DEVICE.

Application filed November 4, 1913.

To all "LUILO'WZ it may concern Be it known that I, BURT R. VAN VALKEN- none, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oakland, in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Crescendo Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to automatic mus1- cal instruments of the organ type and has as its principal object the provision of a de vice for producing a crescendo eifect by throwing successively into operation the different sets of pipes or reeds.

A further object of my device resides in the particular arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter described.

My device is used as an auxiliary to the regular organ stops and in no way interferes with the action of the latter. It may be placed on the instrument so as to be operated in any convenient manner, such as a knee stop of the usual form.

In the instrument wherein my device is used, the stops throw the various sets of pipes into operation by pneumatic means and my device provides a second and independent means for operating these pneumatic devices so as to produce a crescendo effect. This operation takes place regardless of the position of the manually operated stops and those of the latter which are in operating position continue to operate after this device is returned to its 0H position.

The advantages and construction of my improved device will be fully understood from the following specification, and the attached drawings forming a part thereof.

In the drawings :Figure 1 is a view in elevation of an orchestrion showing the manner in which my device is attached thereto. Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view showing the manner in which the device operates for one set of pipes. Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation of my device. Fig. 4 is a view in plan of the same. Fig. 5 is a view in section on the line 55 of Fig. 3.

Referring more particularly to the drawings and denoting corresponding parts in the several views by the same numerals of reference, 1 denotes in general the operating instrument having side cases 2 and 3 in which are located the various sets of pipes and reeds.

4: denotes a row of stops for throwing into action the different sets, one pipe chest of Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an 26, 1915.

Serial No. 799,115.

which is shown at 5, and the herein described operation of this set it will be understood, applies to the other sets as well. As shown in Fig. 2, each of the stops 1 in the non-opcrating position closes an air inlet 6 from which a tube 7 leads to a three-way coir necting block 8. A second branch 9 leads from this block to my improved device which is denoted in general by 10, while the remaining branch 11 leads to a valve 12. This valve is arranged in a vacuum cl1amber 16, which connects with a suitable suction device through tube 16, so that the admission of air through either tube '7 or 9 raises the diaphragm 13 and thus the valve 1-1. This places tube 15 in communication with the vacuum chamber 16 deflating the bellows 17. The movable side of the latter 18 provided with an extension 18 connected to a rod 19 passing into the wind trunk 22 which is adapted to open the hinged valve This places the pipe chest 5 in communication with the air supply pipe 23 through the passageway 21.

Referring now to the device 10 shown in Figs. 3, 4L and 5, this consists of a flat strip having attached to each end supporting brackets 26 which have laterally extending arms 27 by which the device is attached to the supporting structure. In strip is a plurality of vertical holes 28 having angularly extending branches 29 leading to the side thereof and connected with tubes 9. It will be understood that there are as many openings 28 as stops 1 and that the block 8 is provided with the same number of threeway connections. These openings 28 are normally closed by a strip of flexible maerial 30 which is fastened to '25 adjacent one of the brackets as at 31. The other end of this strip is fastened in a roller as in dicated at 33. This roller is provided with an axle 31 pivotally mounted in slots 35 in the guide bars 36 which latter are slidably mounted in recesses 37 (see Fig. 5) in the sides of the brackets 26. A spring 38 on each bar 36 exerts downward pressure on axle thus holding the roller in closer contact with the strip 25. Bars 36 are connect ed at the ends by cross pieces 40 and 41 and to the former is attached a spring which restores the roller to its normal position, while to the latter is attached an operating rod which in turn is connected to the operating means such as the knee bracket 13.

The operation of the device is as follows:

When bracket 43 is pressed, the guide bars 36 are moved in the direction of the arrow (Fig. 3) against the tension of spring 42. This causes the rotation of roller 32 which, as it moves along the base 25, rolls up the flexible strip 30 around its periphery and successively uncovers the holes 28, which may be arranged in any desired manner but are preferably arranged in pairs as is shown in Figs. 3 and Al. As each hole is uncovered the air is passed through the corresponding tube 9 to its valve 12 which is opened to allow the bellows 17 to deflate and thus open the valve 20, placing that set of pipes in communication with the air pressure.

The means by which the individual notes are played is not deemed necessary to show here, as the preferred manner of so doing is made the subject matter of another application.

From the above description it will be understood that while I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, that minor changes may be made without departing from the spirit thereof.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In a device of the character described in combination, a valve plate having a plurality of openings therein, brackets: on the ends of said plate serving to retain said mounted on the ends of said valve board,

guide bars slidably arranged in said brackets, a roller revolubly mounted in slots in said guide bars and having the other end of said flexible strip attached thereto, spring means for holding said roller seated on said flexible strip, and means for moving said roller so as to wind the flexible strip thereon and successively uncover the said openings, as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I afiiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

BURT R. VAN V ALKEI BURG.

Witnesses:

H. A. VAN VALKENBURG, R. M. OYARZO.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. i 

